What is the key difference between MCP Inspector and Unphurl MCP?

MCP Inspector belongs to the Security category with local stdio execution, while Unphurl MCP belongs to the Security category with local stdio execution.

How do I install MCP Inspector or Unphurl MCP in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are MCP Inspector and Unphurl MCP free or paid?

MCP Inspector operates under a Freemium model (API Key required). Unphurl MCP operates under a Freemium model (API Key required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

MCP Inspector lists 5 tools with 3 views and 1 GitHub stars. Unphurl MCP lists 6 tools with 6 views and 1 GitHub stars.

Can I use both MCP Inspector and Unphurl MCP together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

MCP Inspector vs Unphurl MCP

In-depth architectural comparison of the MCP Inspector and Unphurl MCP MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

MCP Inspector

Security · Local stdio

Quality: 57/100 (Good) | Auth: API Key required

Unphurl MCP

Security · Local stdio

Quality: 51/100 (Good) | Auth: API Key required

Verdict Summary: Choose MCP Inspector if you need specialized Security tools running via a local process. Choose Unphurl MCP if your workspace requires Security integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose MCP Inspector when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: API Key required (Freemium).
You have access to required keys: GRIDINSOFT_API_KEY.
Primary tools included: inspect_domain, check_domain_safety, get_domain_reputation.

Explore MCP Inspector Details

Choose Unphurl MCP when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: API Key required (Freemium).
You have access to required keys: UNPHURL_API_KEY.
Primary tools included: Analyze URLs across seven signal dimensions, Return configurable 0-100 risk scores, Batch-check up to 500 URLs.

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	MCP Inspector gridinsoft Security	Unphurl MCP 123Ergo Security
Summary	MCP server for domain and URL security analysis powered by GridinSoft Inspector, enabling AI agents to verify website and link safety.	URL intelligence for AI agents. 13 tools for security signals and data quality: redirect behaviour, brand impersonation detection, domain age, SSL validation, parked detection, URL structural analysis, DNS enrichment.
Category & Scope

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

MCP Inspector Tools (5)

inspect_domain

Comprehensive domain security profile. Essential for checking if a site is safe, trustworthy, or a scam. Returns reputation (0-100), security verdicts, hosting info, and risk tags. Use this tool when users ask about site reliability, trust, or safety.

check_domain_safety

Semantic alias for inspect_domain. Quick check if a website is safe, malicious, or a scam. Returns reputation score and security verdict.

get_domain_reputation

Semantic alias for inspect_domain. Get the trust and reputation score (0-100) for a domain.

scan_url

Deep forensic URL analysis. Detects phishing, malware, and fraudulent redirects. Use this to verify specific links, login pages, or suspicious URLs. Provides forensic data including screenshots and network traffic analysis.

get_balance

Check remaining API credits and subscription plan status

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

MCP Inspector Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gridinsoft-mcp-inspector": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@gridinsoft/mcp-inspector"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GRIDINSOFT_API_KEY": "YOUR_GRIDINSOFT_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Unphurl MCP Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "123ergo-unphurl-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "unphurl"
      ],
      "env": {
        "UNPHURL_API_KEY": "YOUR_UNPHURL_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

MCP Inspector is categorized under Security and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Unphurl MCP belongs to Security using local stdio subprocess. Select MCP Inspector when you need capabilities focused on security and Unphurl MCP when you require tools for security.

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